United thread 2012/13 (inc merged IPO thread)

[the mystery illness]

don't forget "the red knights" , surely they'll save em ? :-D

 

[M18CTID]

just seen this on redcafe

"How would you describe Man City getting billionaire oil money and derailing the Glazer's financial plan. Forcing the Glazers into an IPO to raise money to cover the financial loss and to try and remain competitive."

so its all our fault that united are heading for financial meltdown, nowt to do with the Glazers.

funniest read in a long time.

I knew we'd get the blame somewhere along the line lol. Perhaps the person that posted that should tweet it to MUST. It might tell Drasdo that he's been blaming the wrong party in all this ;)

 

[Blueboy Danny]

It's been clear from the Rock of Gibraltar saga right through to his hefty share bonus from the IPO that baconface is just a selfish, money grabbing, i'm-all-right-jack bastard.

The fact that his greed triggered the series of events that delivers us to where we find ourselves today makes it even more delicious.

Funny when you mention this to rag fans they get all defensive about Fergie laying all the blame with the Glaizers, I wonder if things go tits up and Fergie walks away with a tidy sum, would they feel the same?

 

[M18CTID]

Glazers cement Manchester United control by moving to block takeovers • Glazers alter constitution to deter hostile bids • Manchester United flotation contains new provisions

Simon Goodley guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 July 2012 20.16 BST

The terms of the Glazers' New York flotation risk sparking a fresh round of protests from Manchester United fans. Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images

The Glazer family has moved to block any future hostile takeover of Manchester United by quietly altering the club's constitution, in a move that will further enrage the club's fans.

The changes – almost certainly designed to protect the Glazers' control of the club if the family cashes in further shares – is revealed in regulatory documents published as part of the club's planned flotation in New York. The float stands to net the Glazers around $150m (£96m), despite previous assurances that proceeds would go towards paying down the club's debt.

The US filing warns potential investors: "Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents and Cayman Islands law [where Manchester United are incorporated] may discourage or prevent a change of control, even if an acquisition would be beneficial to our shareholders, which could depress the price of our shares and prevent attempts by our shareholders to replace or remove our current management."

The filing goes on to say that the club's "amended and restated memorandum and articles of association" now permit the Glazers to issue new shares "from time to time, with such rights and preferences as they consider appropriate. Our board of directors could also authorize the issuance of preference shares with terms and conditions and under circumstances that could have an effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction".

The Glazers are only selling around 10% of the club through the stock market listing, so they would be able to block any takeover bid launched immediately after the float. However, financial experts said that the new anti-takeover clauses would protect their position if they needed to raise cash in the future by selling down their holding.

The flotation documents also show that the Glazers have retained the option to sell an additional 2.5m of their shares, which would bolster their proceeds from the offering by $45m.

Michael Moritz, a Cardiff-born Silicon Valley investor who is also a Manchester United fan and critic of the Glazers, said: "The anti-takeover provisions further protect the Glazers. It is the financial equivalent of armed robbers leaving the scene of a crime and throwing nails on the road to stop pursuers.A pound of potatoes will be a better investment than the purchase of shares in Manchester United's stock offering. The only people who will be better off with this offering are the Glazers".

Neither Manchester United nor Jefferies, the club's main adviser on the listing, returned phone calls or emails.

Monday evening's statement – which described United as an "emerging growth company" despite revenues slumping by up to 5% in the last financial year – shows that the club will be valued at around $3bn if the listing goes off successfully. Assuming United can find enough buyers, the shares will begin trading next month.

However, it is still far from clear that the club will be able to sell enough shares at what the Glazers consider an acceptable price, and concerns over the valuation have previously forced the club to abandon plans to list its shares in Hong Kong and then in Singapore. The investment bank Morgan Stanley is also believed to have stepped away from the flotation because of fears that the Glazer family had pinned too high a valuation on the club.

Much of the investor concern comes down to the club's massive debt, which stood at £437m at the end of June, and how the balance sheet is potentially weighing the club down.

Andy Green, a football finance writer behind the andersred blog, calculates that £520m has been taken out of United since the Glazers took the club over in 2005, with most of that figure being accounted for via interest and fees related to the club's borrowings. Meanwhile, of the £520m, £38m has been paid directly to the Glazers via £28m in consultancy fees to their companies and a £10m dividend.

Apart from raising money for the Glazers, a successful float of Manchester United will achieve two further aims. Firstly, it will raise around $150m to pay down debts. Second it will give the club a financial valuation, which the Glazers will eventually need if they are to cash in their investment by selling the club at some future point.

How much United are worth is crucial to the balance of the family's finances. Wealth-X, a consultancy that specialises in high net worth individuals, estimates Malcolm Glazer's fortune at $2.7bn, $1.3bn of which is tied to United. His stake in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is worth another $980m and First Allied, his ailing shopping malls business, another $8.5m.

-- Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:11 pm --

From the above guardian article it.looks like the Glazer's are in it for the long haul n don't want anybody doing "a Glazer" to them in the future..

To be honest JM, I think this has been the Glazer's intention all along - long-term ownership of the club enabling them to continue milking it for as much as possible. I can only envisage them selling the club if their personal debts and the debts in their other businesses get so bad that even the United cash cow can't get them out of the mire, meaning they have no room to manoeuvre and therefore no choice but to sell up. However, if they can continue to keep their heads above water then it makes no sense to offload the club unless they were made an offer that would be too good to refuse. And it would have to be a damn good one because I think their ultimate goal is to get to a point where United is debt-free which on the one hand will theoretically give you more spending power in the transfer market but on the flip side it will enable the Glazers to milk even more cash.

As you've said, they're not as daft as they look. They're actually very good businessmen but owning United is just that to them: strictly business, with a ruthless disregard for the fans who they take for granted.

 

[St Helens Blue (Exiled)]

Could they ever go the way of Rangers???

 

[malg]

Could they ever go the way of Rangers???

Absolutely not, they make way, way too much money. It's frightening to think who they'd be signing now if the Glazers weren't taking so much money out of them. Thank fuck for Ferguson's greed and the Glazers takeover is all I can say.

 

[bluevengence]

don't forget "the red knights" , surely they'll save em ? :-D

Errrr.....Ni!

 

[72blue]

just seen this on redcafe

"How would you describe Man City getting billionaire oil money and derailing the Glazer's financial plan. Forcing the Glazers into an IPO to raise money to cover the financial loss and to try and remain competitive."

so its all our fault that united are heading for financial meltdown, nowt to do with the Glazers.

funniest read in a long time.

They aren't exactly the brightest people ever, over on The Swamp, everything and anything is F***ing City's fault.

Well, it just might be, the Glazers continued milking of United is dependant on United's continued success, admittedly there is time lag between loss of form and loss of punters, but not as much as the Glazers would like. If City continue kicking United's arse and keep snatching those trophies rightfully hers, those cash cows teats are going to start running dry.

So we might just be the final nail in that gangster cabals coffin.

I agree, but it's not City's fault that United are not winning trophies, it's united's for not staying competitive with City. I also highly doubt they will have a Rangers-esque death due to their fanbase, sponsorship's etc.

Although I do see them drifting to about Arsenal level, when the transition of managers happens due to Ferguson's retirement, unless they get someone of Mourinho's class they will struggle IMO.

 

[pfazz]

Oh dear,

Seems there is little interest in the Glazer scam.




<a class="postlink" href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/have-2000-cash-your-fidelity-account-then-you-too-can-qualify-lose-money-manchester-united-ipo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.zerohedge.com/news/have-2000 ... united-ipo</a>


Have $100,000 in "certain assets at Fidelity" and at least $2,000 in cash for close margin call encounters (you will need it)? Then you too are eligible to participate in the next IPO collapse, coming on August 9th in the form of the Manchester United public offering, which is going to be such an epic disaster it not only has middle market junk bond specialist Jefferies as lead left, that it has already opened itself up to retail participation by all the sub-underwriters, and as of this morning such reputable brokers as Fidelity are seeking indications of interest. Which simply means there is absolutely no interest at the institutional level. The last time this happened? FaceBerg, which went from $43 to $21 in about a month.

From the horse's mouth:

Eligibility: Eligibility for participation in traditional IPOs led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) is reserved for brokerage customers with a minimum of $100,000 in certain assets at Fidelity. Other providers of traditional IPOs, and other equity public offerings made through Fidelity may be reserved for brokerage customers with a minimum of $100,000 or $500,000 in certain assets at Fidelity. Auction OpenIPOs and Secondary offerings made available through Fidelity are reserved for brokerage customers with a minimum of $100,000 in certain assets held at Fidelity. Members of Premium Services or customers who have placed 36 or more stock, fixed income, or option trades in a rolling 12-month period are eligible for either traditional or auction based offerings... Other assets may be included in the calculation at our discretion. In addition, an account in which an indication of interest is entered must have at least $2,000 in cash or fully paid securities.

Said otherwise, please make sure to have $2,000 in cash in your Fidelity account. Because that money will be promplty lost.

 

[JM Mcr]

I agree, but it's not City's fault that United are not winning trophies, it's united's for not staying competitive with City. I also highly doubt they will have a Rangers-esque death due to their fanbase, sponsorship's etc.

Although I do see them drifting to about Arsenal level, when the transition of managers happens due to Ferguson's retirement, unless they get someone of Mourinho's class they will struggle IMO.

Bit of a premature comment don't you think? It's all of one whole season since they were last league champions!

As for not staying competitive with City, I'd say being pipped to the title on goal difference, with virtually the last kick of the season, is fairly competitive.